ATLANTA — A once-abandoned building directly behind the Cleveland Avenue Barbershop is being transformed into a new community center.
The building, which will have a painted mural showing an American flag with a raised fist—a global symbol of fighting oppression—will be the new home of the Mothers Against Gang Violence organization.
It was founded in 2017 by Takesia Shields—a mother who saw firsthand the consequences of peer pressure from hybrid gangs and poor decisions by teenagers.
Her son was convicted of robbery at the age of 17-years-old.
"It's a community organization that helps families advocate for their loved ones who have been impacted by the judicial system as well gang and gun violence in our communities," Shields said.
Shields is from the Cleveland Avenue Community. A neighborhood not unfamiliar with gang and gun violence.
On May 1, Atlanta Police said 16-year-old Rodney Thompson was shot and killed inside a home in the 100 block of Judy Lane SW. This is less than a mile away from the new community center.
"We have to do more as parents; we have to step up," Shields said.
Thompson is one of 38 teenagers and children killed across the city of Atlanta since January 1.
11Alive combed through the shootings APD has confirmed on their website so far this year. Here are the numbers of teenagers or children shot each month.
- January: 6
- February: 9
- March: 5
- April: 11
- As of May 29: 7
The youngest victim was a 3-year-old. Out of the 38 teenagers and children shot, three of the shootings turned into homicides. Again, these are just the shootings APD has confirmed. This doesn't include other metro jurisdictions.
"Once you lose your kid, you literally, I lost my job, I almost ended homeless," Paulette Smith explained.
Smith lost her son, Jonathan McWilliams, in a homicide on August 31, 2021. She said she found her son's body in his bedroom inside their Laurel Pointe Apartments in Forest Park. His killer has never been caught.
She said that instead of giving up, she pulled herself together after a close friend told her to contact Shields and "Mothers Against Gang Violence."
"I literally called TK (Tekesia Shields) on that day," Smith recalled.
Then, she showed up to her first meeting.
"When I walked into the meeting, it was room full of love, really," Smith explained.
She added, "It's like a family; it's called family engagement."
Smith said it's a mix of individuals. Some have lost their children, and others haven't lost them forever but are currently incarcerated.
"But we all connect because we're a part of the community," she said.
Shields hopes that she can bring what her organization was able to do for Smith to the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood.
"It's just bringing the resources to the community," she said.
Shieldshopesg that moving into a once-abandoned building behind the Cleveland Avenue Barbershop will help reach those still trying to find their path in life.
"We have to as a community start taking back our community we just have to, because if not, the killing isn't going to stop," she explained.
Mothers Against Gang Violence will begin meeting in the new building on Monday, June 3, at 6 p.m. Meetings will continue every Monday at the same time unless it falls on a holiday.
Shields said the meetings are open to the entire family. They'll have mentors for the children and even case managers to help struggling families.
The new center is right behind the barbershop at 30 Cleveland Avenue.
Anyone with information on the unsolved homicide of Jonathan McWilliams is asked to call Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or e-mail the anonymous information using the online form at www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.
The tip can result in a reward of up to $2,000 to the individual who supplied the information needed to solve the case.